By Last Updated on October 14, 2022
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A little more than 30 miles east of Austin, it feels like entering another world as you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and enter the Lost Pines. A unique 13-mile belt of loblolly pines near Bastrop, Texas, Lost Pines is protected from logging and development by Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park.
After our short drive from Austin, we arrived at the end of a two-mile road and entered the gated heritage 230-acre Reserve at Greenleaf. This property with a land-protecting conservation easement is located just two miles northeast of Bastrop, Texas.
The one-lane river rock road paved road winds through the Lost Pines Forest for about a quarter-mile. My husband and I approached a pavilion, and our host Bubba Clardy was standing there waving with a clipboard in hand. We were warmly greeted and directed to pull into the driveway of the first yurt cabin on the left.
The Private Reserve at Greenleaf
The reserve is a remote wooded wonderland with four yurt cabins spaced for privacy. The pavilion features a large table and chairs, public restrooms, an area with a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs and skewers for roasting marshmallows. Immediately I thought “what a great place for a family getaway, girls’ weekend, or romantic retreat!”
Bubba also pointed out the deck with its 14-foot soothing hot tub, gravity chairs for star gazing, and two gas grills for cooking out with a nearby picnic table. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the amenities and the options for recreational activities available to guests at the Reserve at Greenleaf.
Local Activities Available
The area contains six miles of guided or self-guided hiking trails and paths. An additional nine miles of hike and bike trails are located next door at Lake Bastrop, a 25-minute hike from our yurt cabin.
There’s a catch and release fishing pond on the property, outdoor games like cornhole, ladder ball, frisbee, and of course, the large hot tub and fire pit, which is lit each night before sunset. And of course, we had to make our own S’mores.
Bubba explained that as he and his partner Jeanne expand their family hospitality venture, they plan to add ax throwing, archery, orienteering, and maybe even a target/clay shooting range. They also offer kayak rentals for water excursions and will transport these to Lake Bastrop or the Colorado River.
Our Luxury Yurt in Bastrop
We were super excited about glamping in our luxury yurt in Bastrop. Guests can choose from one of four yurts that all have digital entry, comfortable king or queen beds and private forest views. Bathrooms include rainfall showerheads, teak flooring, locally handcrafted soaps, luxury spa robes, fluffy towels, and a flush toilet. One cabin has an additional soaking tub.
Our exceptionally clean 450 square-foot one-bedroom, one bath yurt was well constructed and sported a lodgepole pine ceiling, heat and air conditioning, and a domed roof skylight for nightime star gazing. Our cabin, the Agave, had a lovely king bed. All yurts include premium bedding, highspeed en suite WiFi and bedside USB ports. A cozy table for two is perfect for dining. A favorite amenity was the two Adirondack chairs on our private deck where we could watch the butterflies and listen to the birds.
Pantry items like breakfast bars, almonds and raisins, orange-chocolate cookies, chocolate bars, and a S’mores kit are all complimentary. The frig was stocked with ice, complimentary ginger ales, and Italian sodas. Fair Trade Grizzly Blend coffee and organic teas were available for the kitchen’s French press coffee maker and Berkey water filter. A Bastrop brochure is also included for guests, along with a Texas history book of short stories. Jeanne certainly thought of everything.
A special part of the charm is that yurt cabins do not have TVs. I can honestly say that we never missed it.
Bastrop and Texas Hospitality
Located about 45 minutes east of Austin, Old Town Bastrop features friendly downtown streets with an authentic Texas experience without the crowds. The quaint town has a river walk, a main street historic district, family-owned restaurants, hometown shopping, a winery, brewery, moonshine distillery, and beautifully restored historic homes.
There’s always something special happening in Bastrop, whether it’s a music festival, rodeo, 4th of July fireworks, pumpkins at the fall festival, or celebrating a Lost Pines Christmas.
Places to Eat in Bastrop
A short ten-minute drive into town for meals was very easy. Maxine’s Café & Bakery on Main Street across from the Museum and Visitor Center offers the best breakfast in Bastrop. Lunch or dinner entrees included hearty chicken fried steak with gravy, fried catfish, port chops, or cheeseburgers.
Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard is a rustic hangout with a river view from its multi-level patio serving pizzas, draft beer, cocktails and wine, and live music.
Paw Paw’s Catfish House serves hand-battered catfish, shrimp, Po’ boys, and burgers with a fish, family, and big stories theme.
Heaping plates of Texas barbecue can be found at Southside Market & BBQ, along with sausage and fresh sides, and of no surprise, that warm Texas hospitality. This oldest joint in Texas first sold BBQ from the back of a horse-drawn wagon in 1882.
The Clardy’s Philosophy
The Clardy’s philosophy at the Reserve at Greenleaf is a pivot from a Walt Disney quote. “Do what you do so well that they want to see it again and bring their friends.”
Luxury glamping here at the Reserve provides the ideal place to retreat and relax after a fun, adventure-filled day.
We’ll long remember stargazing from the hot tub or reclining in gravity chairs on the deck. The sounds of birds calling in the quiet of the morning while we chilled on our Adirondack chairs on the patio was music to our ears. Luxury glamping surrounded by nature certainly was one amazing experience.
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